Truss



May 8, 1923.

G. A. BERRY TRUSS Filed May 19 4 TTORNEYS Patented May 8, 1923.

GEORGE A. BERRY, OF MODESTO, CALIFORNIA.

TRUSS.

Application filed May 19,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BERRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Modesto, in the county of Stanislaus and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Truss, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to a truss for hernia and has for its general object to provide a construction that will result in the truss being firmly maintained against displacement when applied and that will afford the minimum discomfort and rubbing action on the wearer.

The nature of the invention, its advantages and its distinctive features will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a rear view of a truss embodying my invention, the usual belt being omitted;

Figure 2 is top view;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken at the medial line of the truss;

Figure t is a section taken longitudinally through one of the hernia pads;

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the complete truss including the belt.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example, I provide an element 10 which in the preferred form of the invention consists of a stifi plate spring, but when used with an elastic belt said element 10 may be rigid instead of resilient. To the rear face of said element is secured a pressure plate 11 adapted to be presented to the body of the wearer, said plate being fastened, in any suitable manner, approximately centrally to the spring 10 at or adjacent to the medial line, there being indicated fastening screws 12, in vertical aliuement. The plate 11 presents a broad surface. On the plate 11 at the lower portion is a pair of pads 13 positioned at opposite sides of the vertical medial line of said plate and disposed oblique to said medial line. Advant-ageously the pads 13 are secured to lateral extensions 11 of the plate 11, said plate being contracted adjacent to said pads and extensions and broadened substantially above the contraction. The formal ion oi t e plate 1. i$ $1 .9 that the exten- 1921. Serial No. 470,966.

sions 11 and the pads 13 thereon are in planes at angles to each other, said extensions being deflected rearwardly. Briefly, the pads 13 are oblique to a vertical line and in intersecting planes to flare rearwardly relatively to each other. In addition to the deflection and rearward flare of the extensions 11 of the plate 11, said plate advantageously is curved vertically and transversely, the upper portion of the plate beingdeflee-ted into the planes of the pads 13.

The plate spring 10 has means to fasten it to the ends of a belt 15 there being shown hooks 14 provided in pairs and directed Iaterally inward at the ends of the plate for receiving bends 16 in wire loo s 16 onthe ends of the belt 15, it being unc erstood that any other approved co-engaging fastening means may be provided on the belt 15 and springlO.

The spring 10 is curved longitudinally to present a convex curvature at the front as. clearly seen in Figure 2 so that the tightening of the belt will tend to straighten said spring 10 and stress the same that the tension of the spring may be effectively exerted on the plate 11 to thereby firmly maintain the plate 11 and pads 13 against the wearer but without severity notwithstanding the stiff character of the plate and the fixed relation of the pads 13 and plate.

The pads 13 are made adjustable in their own planes and relatively to each other and to the plate 11 for the purpose of giving them a greater range of efiicienoy in locating them over the crucial points of the body for effective pressure at the hernia. In the illustrated example I have shown as a means for the stated purpose a pair of screws 1'? for each pad and to receive the screws a plurality of'holes are provided to be selectively employed according to the adjustment desired. Three holes 17 a are shown in the illustrated form extending through the spring 10 and each extension 11 and five holes 17 are shown in the pad 13 at the back in Figure 4:, any pair of which may be alined with any two of the holes 17. The arrangement is such that with the screws 17 and holes 17 a limited longitudinal adjustment of the pad may be effected in the plane of the pad and a wider range of adjustment by the screw 17 and a selected pair of holes 17 The plate 11 by reason of the described f mation w exert pr ss re on a bedy of the wearer above the pads 13 in that said pads will give result in points or areas of pressure in triangular relation. The general pressure is very efiectively applied by reason of the plate 10 being stressed by the tightening of the belt 15.

I would state in conclusion that While the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, 1 do not limit myself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied Without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A truss including a stilt broad pressure plate presenting a permanent concave curvature at the, back 'thereor", pads on said plate at the back thereof ad acent to the lower edge and disposed in planes at an angle to each other, said plate being permanently deflected rearwardly at the top portion into the vertical planes of the pads, and a stiff elongated 'plate spring secured at its approximate center to said pressure plate and extending beyond the side edges of said plate, said spring being curved longitudinally to present a concave curvature at the front, and having belt securing means adjacent to its ends, to adapt the spring to be stressed'by'the tightening of the belt on the wearer to thereby exert spring pressure against the plate for maintaining the plate and pads against displacement when the truss is Worn.

- 2. Atruss including a stiff broad pressure platepresenting a concave curvature at the back thereof, pads on said plate at the back thereof adjacent to the lower edge at each side of the medial line and disposed in planes at'an angle to each other, said plate being permanently deflected rearvvardly at the to'p portion to overhangthe pads, and

an elongated carrying element secured at its approximate center to said pressure plate 'and ez'ztendingbeyond the side edges thereof 'and'provided vvlth belt-securing means.

3. A truss including a plate substantially oval in shape 'andpresenting adjacent the lower end a pair of rea rwardly deflected projections, pads adjustably secured to said projections, said plate being permanently deflected at its upper end to overhang said pads and a spring elongated member secured to said plate adjacent its center for carrying the same, said member being adapted to straighten in its normal plane and thereby causing said plate and pads to resiliently bear against the body of the wearer.

at. A truss including a carrying element, a broad stiff pressure plate secured at its medial line to said element, at the approximate center of the latter, and pads on 'the plate, said pads being disposed .at opposite sides of the medial line and oblique to the latter in planes at an angleto each other, said pressure plate being curved transversely and vertically so that its upper portion is deflected to overhang said'p'ads.

A truss including a carrying element, broad stitl pressure plate secured at its medial line to said element at the approximate center of the latter, and pads on the plate, said pads being disposed at opposite sides of the inedlal line and oblique to the latterin planes at an angle to each other,

said plate being deflected rearwardly at its upper portion to overhang said pads.

6. A truss including a plate sprin a broad still pressure plate secured at its media] line to the spring at the approximate center of the latter, and pads ontlie plate, said pads being disposed at opposite sides of the medial line and oblique to'the latter in planes at an angle to each other, said pressure plate being curvedtransversely and vertically so that its upper portion is deflected to overhang said pads.

7. .Pr truss including a plate spring, a broad still pressure *plate secured at its medial line to the spring at the approxiin'ate center'ott the latter, and pads on the plate, said pads eing disposed at opposite sides 01' the medial'line and oblique to the latter in planes at an angle to each other, said plate being deflected rearwardly at'its upperportion to overhang the said pads.

GEORGE A. BERRY. 

